BASEBALL / SPRING TRAINING REPORT : Steinbrenner Brings Jackson Back to Yankees as Adviser

Together again, Reggie Jackson and George Steinbrenner.

In his first appointment since returning to the New York Yankees on March 1, Steinbrenner announced Saturday that Jackson will rejoin the Yankees as a special adviser.

Jackson, 46, who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this summer, will report to Joe Molloy, Steinbrenner’s son-in-law.

“This hiring is not a platform for anything,� Steinbrenner said at a news conference. “This is because I truly believe in Reggie Jackson.�

Jackson spent 21 years in the majors and hit 563 home runs. Steinbrenner allowed Jackson to leave the Yankees in 1981. Jackson, with the Angels, led the league in home runs the next season.

“I’m proud of the fact I’m a black man with the Yankees,� Jackson said. “I think that’s important.�

Jackson works for the trading-card company Upper Deck, serving on the board of directors and as adviser to the president. He will keep that job and has no plans to move to New York.

Jackson will be in touch almost daily with Steinbrenner and Molloy. He is to visit the team’s minor league affiliates and join Yankees when the club is on the West Coast, where he lives.

The storm that dropped snow on most of the East Coast wiped out nine of 11 spring training games in Florida because of rain and wind.

The only complete game was the Yankees’ 11-4 victory over the Dodgers at Ft. Lauderdale.

“You look at it and hate to play in those conditions,� Yankee Manager Buck Showalter said. “But we may have those conditions in Cleveland and Chicago in April.�

Relief ace Mike Henneman agreed to a three-year contract with the Detroit Tigers, a deal that replaces the $3,437,500, one-year contract he agreed to in February.

Henneman, 31, led the Tigers with a career-best 24 saves last season but finished with a 3.96 earned-run average, also his highest.

Andy Van Slyke underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in Pittsburgh, and the Pirates said they are optimistic he will be ready to play in their opener on April 6.